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4:00pm.
Rie looked impatiently at the clock, counting down to seconds before literally leaping out of the class before the teacher could say "that's it for today". It was one of the few classes that Rie actually went to, and she felt she could hardly breath already.
The warm and gentle spring wind fluttered across her dark skin. Rie breathed in deeply and out. Outside felt good, freedom felt good.
Wtihout second thought, the girl walked back to her apartment where her baby motorcycle was waiting. Rie handled the bike with ease, and soon she was zooming across the streets with a speed that would surely attract policemen if they saw. She had full confidence in her riding skills, even though some people may think otherwise.
Today, she has a date with her buddies. They were to ride around the town until sunset. It was a route too familiar to Rie, and she didn't pay much attention to the surroundings, feeling that she already knew this place by heart. Today, however, something strange caught her eyes while she stood, waiting for the others to come.
A small shop, just down at the corner of a small street.
Rie frowned a little. Did that shop exist before? It must have been, as the building didn't look like it was built yesterday. How come she never noticed it before? The girl scratched her head. She was sure that she had the most accurate map to this place in her head.
Looking around and not seeing anyone coming so soon (oh those bastards, always making her wait!), Rie decided to pay the said shop a visit. She hoped the shop had something to do with the bikes, although it didn't look like it...maybe she could use some kind of decoration on her bike?
Walking into the shop, Rie was immediately confronted with the warmth and the cozy feeling. She wasn't sure she liked it. In fact, the overwhelming comfort gave her goosepimps. For a moment Rie had the urge of turning back and walking out of the shop, but a voice caught her before she could escape.
"Welcome to the ED shop! Please! Come in."
Rie sighed and turned back, looking at the silvery haired woman. She gave her an awkward smile.
"So uh, what do you sell here?"
Rie looked impatiently at the clock, counting down to seconds before literally leaping out of the class before the teacher could say "that's it for today". It was one of the few classes that Rie actually went to, and she felt she could hardly breath already.
The warm and gentle spring wind fluttered across her dark skin. Rie breathed in deeply and out. Outside felt good, freedom felt good.
Wtihout second thought, the girl walked back to her apartment where her baby motorcycle was waiting. Rie handled the bike with ease, and soon she was zooming across the streets with a speed that would surely attract policemen if they saw. She had full confidence in her riding skills, even though some people may think otherwise.
Today, she has a date with her buddies. They were to ride around the town until sunset. It was a route too familiar to Rie, and she didn't pay much attention to the surroundings, feeling that she already knew this place by heart. Today, however, something strange caught her eyes while she stood, waiting for the others to come.
A small shop, just down at the corner of a small street.
Rie frowned a little. Did that shop exist before? It must have been, as the building didn't look like it was built yesterday. How come she never noticed it before? The girl scratched her head. She was sure that she had the most accurate map to this place in her head.
Looking around and not seeing anyone coming so soon (oh those bastards, always making her wait!), Rie decided to pay the said shop a visit. She hoped the shop had something to do with the bikes, although it didn't look like it...maybe she could use some kind of decoration on her bike?
Walking into the shop, Rie was immediately confronted with the warmth and the cozy feeling. She wasn't sure she liked it. In fact, the overwhelming comfort gave her goosepimps. For a moment Rie had the urge of turning back and walking out of the shop, but a voice caught her before she could escape.
"Welcome to the ED shop! Please! Come in."
Rie sighed and turned back, looking at the silvery haired woman. She gave her an awkward smile.
"So uh, what do you sell here?"
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The woman chuckled slightly. This one looked promising and yet difficult.
"Straight to the point I see. Well; I suppose we have... antiques of sorts. But not your normal kind. Oh no. Would you like to come in? I haven't a customer yet who's walked in without finding something they love."
She moved slightly to the side, offering the woman a chance to enter. She motioned slightly to the small shelves filled with various items around the room.
"You can browse around if you'd like. The front window also has some items you may be interested in. Feel free! There is a kitchen to the far corner of the room there."
She pointed off to the furthest corner where a small kitchen was tucked. Two thin steps lead up to the white tiled floor where a bundle of cabins stood above and below the countertops. Random kitchen accessories decorated the counter, and a decently sized refrigerator stood off to the side. A small stovetop oven and dishwasher were tucked into the counters, as if it were a kitchen in a regular home.
"If you'd like I can make you something to drink. Tea, coca, juice. Perhaps a snack. Don't hesitate to ask."
She smiled to the woman.
"Straight to the point I see. Well; I suppose we have... antiques of sorts. But not your normal kind. Oh no. Would you like to come in? I haven't a customer yet who's walked in without finding something they love."
She moved slightly to the side, offering the woman a chance to enter. She motioned slightly to the small shelves filled with various items around the room.
"You can browse around if you'd like. The front window also has some items you may be interested in. Feel free! There is a kitchen to the far corner of the room there."
She pointed off to the furthest corner where a small kitchen was tucked. Two thin steps lead up to the white tiled floor where a bundle of cabins stood above and below the countertops. Random kitchen accessories decorated the counter, and a decently sized refrigerator stood off to the side. A small stovetop oven and dishwasher were tucked into the counters, as if it were a kitchen in a regular home.
"If you'd like I can make you something to drink. Tea, coca, juice. Perhaps a snack. Don't hesitate to ask."
She smiled to the woman.
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Rie nodded absently, and slowly moved into the room while trying to distract herself by looking around. There were, like she thought, a lot of different kinds of items. Some of them Rie had never seen before. Kirin, Rie's best friend, had a relative who ran a similar antique shop. Rie thought she had seen some of the most strange stuff there, but she never knew something equal had existed so close to her.
The dark skinned girl moved around the room, browsing different items displayed on shelves and the front window. Rie raised an eyebrow, and suddenly turned around for the shop owner (she assumed the silver haired woman to be the shop owner).
"Hey, you said these are not normal? In what ways?" And, realizing the woman was asking a question at the same time, Rie paused and thought a little, then replied, "and do you have coffee?"
The dark skinned girl moved around the room, browsing different items displayed on shelves and the front window. Rie raised an eyebrow, and suddenly turned around for the shop owner (she assumed the silver haired woman to be the shop owner).
"Hey, you said these are not normal? In what ways?" And, realizing the woman was asking a question at the same time, Rie paused and thought a little, then replied, "and do you have coffee?"
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"Coffee? Of course. Is fine grind alright with you?"
She made her way over to the kitchen while she spoke.
"Well... I suppose you could say there are a lot more too them than meets the eye. People tend to bond well with their items when they take them home, as silly as that might sound. They have a certain air of... life about them. Oh, excuse my manners. My name is Rose, or Blood if you prefer."
She made a slight bow of apology to the woman as she browsed, and turned back to the coffee maker before her, checking that it was done. She effortlessly grabbed a mug from the cabinet, and the fresh pot of coffee from beside the stove. She placed them both on a small tray, as well as a small pouring cup of cream and a bowl of cubed sugar. Balancing them all upon the tray, she made her way back to the woman, holding the tray out in front, to allow her to put her coffee together how she liked.
"See anything that tickles your fancy yet?"
She made her way over to the kitchen while she spoke.
"Well... I suppose you could say there are a lot more too them than meets the eye. People tend to bond well with their items when they take them home, as silly as that might sound. They have a certain air of... life about them. Oh, excuse my manners. My name is Rose, or Blood if you prefer."
She made a slight bow of apology to the woman as she browsed, and turned back to the coffee maker before her, checking that it was done. She effortlessly grabbed a mug from the cabinet, and the fresh pot of coffee from beside the stove. She placed them both on a small tray, as well as a small pouring cup of cream and a bowl of cubed sugar. Balancing them all upon the tray, she made her way back to the woman, holding the tray out in front, to allow her to put her coffee together how she liked.
"See anything that tickles your fancy yet?"
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Rie shurgged, "fine by me." She kept her eyes busy on the various items, while her ears paid attention to what the woman, Rose, said.
She snickered, "you are telling me these things can grow legs and run." It wasn't a question, but rather a satirical comment. Rie was a realist, and unless she sees it with her own eyes, she wouldn't believe it. Although Kirin did say something similar back when she had visited her relatives shop. The dark skinned woman reminded herself to talk to the shy girl about this shop, too.
"These things look so fancy." And girly to her, but Rie didn't say so. "I'm looking for something to decorate my bike." Rie pointed to her V-storm outside of the shop window. "You think you have anything for that?"
She snickered, "you are telling me these things can grow legs and run." It wasn't a question, but rather a satirical comment. Rie was a realist, and unless she sees it with her own eyes, she wouldn't believe it. Although Kirin did say something similar back when she had visited her relatives shop. The dark skinned woman reminded herself to talk to the shy girl about this shop, too.
"These things look so fancy." And girly to her, but Rie didn't say so. "I'm looking for something to decorate my bike." Rie pointed to her V-storm outside of the shop window. "You think you have anything for that?"
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Rose chuckled slightly at the comment.
"You could say that."
She eyed the motorbike that sat idly outside, thinking for a moment for something that may fit the womans style. She found people bonded better when the item suited their personality best. It always seemed to work out that way. After a moment a newer piece fumbled about in the front of her mind.
"I just might. A newer item just came in that I think you might fancy. It's small and seems to suit you well."
Rose placed the tray down on the coffee table, and scurried over to the window, reaching over the wooden back and pulling out a small black and red charm.
"It's a charm, or a talisman if you prefer."
She walked over to the girl and held it out flat on her palm, so she could look at it. The fine red silk threads at the bottom sprawled across the ball of her palm, and the small dips along the flat surface caught the light awkwardly.
"And it matches the colour of your bike to boot."
She chuckled and nodded towards the bike.
"What do you think?"
"You could say that."
She eyed the motorbike that sat idly outside, thinking for a moment for something that may fit the womans style. She found people bonded better when the item suited their personality best. It always seemed to work out that way. After a moment a newer piece fumbled about in the front of her mind.
"I just might. A newer item just came in that I think you might fancy. It's small and seems to suit you well."
Rose placed the tray down on the coffee table, and scurried over to the window, reaching over the wooden back and pulling out a small black and red charm.
"It's a charm, or a talisman if you prefer."
She walked over to the girl and held it out flat on her palm, so she could look at it. The fine red silk threads at the bottom sprawled across the ball of her palm, and the small dips along the flat surface caught the light awkwardly.
"And it matches the colour of your bike to boot."
She chuckled and nodded towards the bike.
"What do you think?"
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Rie took the moment to sit down and make herself comfortable while reaching for the coffee cup. The girl seeped at the coffee while waited, which didn't take long before the woman showed up again, with a small black charm dangling in her hand.
Rie tilted her head a little. Hm, at least it was black and red, which matches her bike.
"A talisman?" Rie smiled, "will it protect me from danger?" Again, a rhetorical question. Rie didn't wait for the woman to answer before putting her face closer to the item to inspect it.
"What does it say on there? The characters I mean." The dark skinned girl was pretty sure it was Chinese. She had seen something similar before. Being with Kirin, who was from China, helped in this case to at least recognize where the strange character was from. Or at least where it was originated.
Rie tilted her head a little. Hm, at least it was black and red, which matches her bike.
"A talisman?" Rie smiled, "will it protect me from danger?" Again, a rhetorical question. Rie didn't wait for the woman to answer before putting her face closer to the item to inspect it.
"What does it say on there? The characters I mean." The dark skinned girl was pretty sure it was Chinese. She had seen something similar before. Being with Kirin, who was from China, helped in this case to at least recognize where the strange character was from. Or at least where it was originated.
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"Well, you can read it three ways. It says 'Hades', 'The nether world', and, or, 'The land of the dead'. And this up here is the Astrological, or Transeptunian Point symbol for Hades."
She pointed to the C with a cross through it, up near the top of the talisman.
"It represents the sordid or negative sides of life; Like waste, decay, illness, sorrow, and want, as well as anything that is vulgar, crime-related, or crude. But it's not all negative. It can also represent antiques, ancient art, and other things from our past. It's quite the little piece."
She held the talisman closer to her, showing her it was alright to touch it, or take it.
She pointed to the C with a cross through it, up near the top of the talisman.
"It represents the sordid or negative sides of life; Like waste, decay, illness, sorrow, and want, as well as anything that is vulgar, crime-related, or crude. But it's not all negative. It can also represent antiques, ancient art, and other things from our past. It's quite the little piece."
She held the talisman closer to her, showing her it was alright to touch it, or take it.
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"Huh." Rie huffed. She had her suspicion that the word didn't say something along the lines of "get rich" or " be safe". In a way, she was quite glad it didn't, otherwise it wouldn't feel unique. Of course, she didn't quite buy into what the woman said either. How was a charm supposed to do its magic when it represented the bad things instead of the good?
Rie took the charm from the woman and held it in her hand. She played around with it, finding it intricate to look at and, the more she looked at it (much to Rie's surprise), the more she felt the charm burning into her hand, as if the red color turned into real fire in her palm.
"This is good enough for me." Rie said quickly, and looked up to the woman. "How much is this? I don't have much right now, might have to pay you back later if you don't mind."
Rie took the charm from the woman and held it in her hand. She played around with it, finding it intricate to look at and, the more she looked at it (much to Rie's surprise), the more she felt the charm burning into her hand, as if the red color turned into real fire in her palm.
"This is good enough for me." Rie said quickly, and looked up to the woman. "How much is this? I don't have much right now, might have to pay you back later if you don't mind."
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"It's yours. No charge."
Rose carried the tray into the kitchen quickly, and returned.
"On one condition. You promise to bring it back in two weeks for a quick check up, and to see if you still like it, and that's it. No if, ands, or buts!"
She reached out and clasped the girls hand around the talisman.
"It's all yours if you can promise me that! So how about it?"
She smiled calmly.
Rose carried the tray into the kitchen quickly, and returned.
"On one condition. You promise to bring it back in two weeks for a quick check up, and to see if you still like it, and that's it. No if, ands, or buts!"
She reached out and clasped the girls hand around the talisman.
"It's all yours if you can promise me that! So how about it?"
She smiled calmly.
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"I---ha?" Rie blinked, trying to absorb what the woman had said. Free? But this was a shop, wasn't it? And shop means...you have to pay to get the stuff you want, right?
"You mean if I don't like it I can return it in two weeks free of charge, and if I do like it then I'll pay 2 weeks later?" Rie tried to justify the woman's words according to her understanding, not sure if that was what the other meant. "I mean sure, I can do that." She nodded, more to herself than to the woman. "I come here pretty much everyday now that the weather's warmer, so..."
"You mean if I don't like it I can return it in two weeks free of charge, and if I do like it then I'll pay 2 weeks later?" Rie tried to justify the woman's words according to her understanding, not sure if that was what the other meant. "I mean sure, I can do that." She nodded, more to herself than to the woman. "I come here pretty much everyday now that the weather's warmer, so..."
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Rose chuckled
"Sorta. But even after two weeks, if you so decide to keep it, it'll still be yours free of charge."
She had gotten used to reactions like this over the years. A lot of the time people would insist on paying, or would ask if there were catches or loopholes. It seemed that "free" was a foreign word these days. But Rose had to admit... Their reactions were often quite priceless.
"Sorta. But even after two weeks, if you so decide to keep it, it'll still be yours free of charge."
She had gotten used to reactions like this over the years. A lot of the time people would insist on paying, or would ask if there were catches or loopholes. It seemed that "free" was a foreign word these days. But Rose had to admit... Their reactions were often quite priceless.
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Rie stared at the woman for as long as she could before her eyes got sore and teary. Free even after that? That sounded too good to be true didn't it? Even for something small like this charm (which probably wasn't a lucky charm by all means), the dark skinned girl was a little skeptical. But what was her place in saying that? If the owner said she didn't need to pay, she wasn't going to pay.
"You said it yourself then. I don't need to pay for this." Rie stared at the woman again after her eyes felt better, "Don't come back and ask me for money two weeks later because I am not going to bring any since you said I didn't need to pay."
"You said it yourself then. I don't need to pay for this." Rie stared at the woman again after her eyes felt better, "Don't come back and ask me for money two weeks later because I am not going to bring any since you said I didn't need to pay."
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Rose laughed heartily and gave the girl a slight pat on the shoulder.
"You've got yourself a deal. Just remember to come back in two weeks. That's all I ask. Meanwhile, take good care of that talisman. I'm just glad you managed to find something you really like here. Anyways, you're free to stick around and look around some more if you'd like, or you can leave. You're welcome here whenever you like!"
"You've got yourself a deal. Just remember to come back in two weeks. That's all I ask. Meanwhile, take good care of that talisman. I'm just glad you managed to find something you really like here. Anyways, you're free to stick around and look around some more if you'd like, or you can leave. You're welcome here whenever you like!"
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Rie shrugged. "Okay." She thought for a moment to take a piece of paper and make the woman sign it as a proof that the charm was indeed free of charge, but decided against that. Actually, she didn't have the time do do much thinking before someone outside shout out her name.
Hey Rie! We are ready to go!
Looks like her buddies had found her bike outside of the shop. Rie wondered if they knew about the shop at all. Perhaps she should ask when they went out for their ride. The dark skinned girl coughed and stood up. making herself out of the shop's door. "I'm gonna take your words for it. Gotta go now, friends are waiting." She gave the woman a small smile before taking her leave.
"See you in two weeks."
Hey Rie! We are ready to go!
Looks like her buddies had found her bike outside of the shop. Rie wondered if they knew about the shop at all. Perhaps she should ask when they went out for their ride. The dark skinned girl coughed and stood up. making herself out of the shop's door. "I'm gonna take your words for it. Gotta go now, friends are waiting." She gave the woman a small smile before taking her leave.
"See you in two weeks."
